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A review by versmonesprit
The Tea Dragon Festival by K. O'Neill
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
There’s a very overtly furry dragon... Yikes.
Set many years before the events of the first book, the highlight is once again Hesekiel and Erik’s relationship, but that certainly isn’t enough to carry a book in which they aren’t the central characters. There are some pretty visuals, but they lose their appeal to the absolute lack of shading which just creates a cuter version of the corporate flat. I’d also like authors of books and TV series to understand that clothing choices are not “diversity” or “representation,” and that hijab is a Muslim attire ONLY — why is Islam a religion in this universe where no other world religions are mentioned? It takes away from the authenticity of your fantasy world…
Anyway, the biggest sin of this book aside from the fursona dragon is that tea dragons play almost no part at all. They’re barely seen around, and they’re mentioned by individual names just once at 75% into the book. This is a book named after the tea dragons, and they play no part at all in it… Make that make sense. And oh, screw tea too. Why should that be an important element when the book is supposed to be based on the concept of tea pets and well, infusions?
(Last note: why are the tea dragons constantly referred to as rats and pests? The latter is so mean for no reason, especially in a book so keen on its message of kindness… Like, why do these characters do not like the tea dragons???)
Set many years before the events of the first book, the highlight is once again Hesekiel and Erik’s relationship, but that certainly isn’t enough to carry a book in which they aren’t the central characters. There are some pretty visuals, but they lose their appeal to the absolute lack of shading which just creates a cuter version of the corporate flat. I’d also like authors of books and TV series to understand that clothing choices are not “diversity” or “representation,” and that hijab is a Muslim attire ONLY — why is Islam a religion in this universe where no other world religions are mentioned? It takes away from the authenticity of your fantasy world…
Anyway, the biggest sin of this book aside from the fursona dragon is that tea dragons play almost no part at all. They’re barely seen around, and they’re mentioned by individual names just once at 75% into the book. This is a book named after the tea dragons, and they play no part at all in it… Make that make sense. And oh, screw tea too. Why should that be an important element when the book is supposed to be based on the concept of tea pets and well, infusions?
(Last note: why are the tea dragons constantly referred to as rats and pests? The latter is so mean for no reason, especially in a book so keen on its message of kindness… Like, why do these characters do not like the tea dragons???)